Charles Armstrong, the Paramount VP who has been in charge of thestudio’s backlot operations for the last seven years, left the studioin mid-June, Below the Line has learned. According to sources,Armstrong’s contract was coming up for renewal and Paramount declinedto ask him to stay on.
A Paramount spokesperson confirmed thatArmstrong was no longer at his post, but declined to comment on thereasons behind it. The studio, she said, had no immediate plans to finda replacement.
Armstrong’s departure comes at a time when a numberof the major studios are paring back their backlot facilities becausethere is not enough overall demand to justify maintaining afull-service operation at each one. Over the last 12 months, Paramountshut down its prop and costume units and eliminated its scoring stage.
Thestudio, however, is about to launch “Rediscover Paramount,” a campaignaimed at producers to attract more shoots to its sets and soundstages.
Meanwhile,the purchase by outsiders of some of the town’s smaller studioscontinues to be a trend. In early July, the historic Sunset GowerStudios was acquired by Hudson Capital, a real estate firm, for over$200 million.
Written by Jack Egan
